MAIN LINE OF PHILADELPHIA - PENNSYLVANIA
You've built
something
significant.
When the stakes are high, you need more than a document. You need a trusted advisor who thinks strategically.
Janelle Peyton, Esq. works with successful business owners and high net worth individuals at the moments that matter most — navigating complex transactions, protecting what they've built, and planning for what comes next.
Who I ServeThe right attorney isn’t the one with the most associates. It’s the one who listens and understands what you’ve actually built.
Established businesses that need protection
Companies that have outgrown the 'figure it out yourself' stage and want a trusted legal partner who knows their name when they call.
Business owners planning their legacy
Owners who recognize that a business succession plan and an estate plan are the same conversation — and need an attorney who understands both.
Business owners selling their company (or buying)
Businesses who need strategic legal counsel through a transaction that represents decades of work on one side, and the future on the other.
Individuals who need an estate plan
Families who need an estate plan that matches their life, not a generic template. And individuals with complex assets, blended families, or business interests who need estate planning that goes beyond a basic will.
Peyton Law is based on the Main Line in Pennsylvania and primarily serves businesses and individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Estate planning and business counsel clients are typically located in the greater Philadelphia area — including the Main Line, Chester County, Delaware County, Bucks County, and South Jersey.
Trademark and intellectual property matters are handled nationwide. If you're outside Pennsylvania but need federal trademark registration or IP counsel, Peyton Law can help regardless of where your business is located.
The Strategic WayMore than a document.
A trusted advisor.
Most attorneys deliver paperwork. I deliver strategy.
At Peyton Law, every engagement starts with a real conversation about what you're trying to accomplish — and builds the legal approach around that goal, not around billable hours.
I work with a select number of clients at any given time. That means when you work with me, you have direct access to me — not an associate, not a paralegal, not a case number. An attorney who knows your situation, answers your calls, and thinks about your outcome.
I also use the latest legal technology, including AI-assisted research and drafting, to work efficiently — so you pay for judgment and strategy, not busywork.
Where I Can Help You MostPeyton Law focuses on three areas where the legal work is consequential, the stakes are high, and the right counsel makes a real difference in outcomes.
BUSINESS COUNSEL
Protecting what you've built.
Established businesses face real legal risk in their contracts, their intellectual property, and their vendor relationships. I serve as a trusted legal partner for business owners who want proactive counsel — not just someone to call when something goes wrong.
Contracts & agreements · Trademarks & IP · Outside general counsel · Business formations · Licensing
BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
Buying or selling a business.
A business transaction is one of the most significant financial events of your life. I work with owners on every stage — from letter of intent through closing — protecting your interests and helping you avoid the issues that sink deals or erode value.
Asset & stock acquisitions · Business sales · Joint ventures · Due diligence · Purchase agreements
ESTATE PLANNING
Planning for what comes next.
For business owners and individuals, estate planning is rarely simple. I work with clients on plans that address the full picture — business succession, asset protection, family dynamics, and what happens when you're no longer there to manage it.
Wills & trusts · Powers of attorney · Healthcare directives · Business succession · Asset protection
Nearly 25 years.
Always in your corner.
Meet JanelleI became a business attorney because I saw what happened when owners didn't have the right counsel at the right moment — deals fell apart, assets went unprotected, and decades of hard work were left exposed.
What I've learned over the years is that the best legal work starts with understanding what someone has built and what they stand to lose. Documents are the output. That conversation is the work.
I'm also a business owner myself. That shapes how I approach every client relationship — with a practical eye toward what actually matters and a deep respect for the decisions you've had to make to get here.
MainLine Today Top Lawyer — 6 Consecutive Years
Business Experience -
Peyton Webster Flooring, Owner
Pure Barre Main Line, Co-Owner
Cali & Main Travel, Successor
Heartwood Install (sunsetted)
University of San Diego School of Law, J.D.
Nearly 25 years serving business owners and high net worth individuals
Licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Common QuestionsWhat clients ask
before we work together.
Business Counsel & Intellectual Property
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A federal trademark registration through the USPTO is the strongest protection available. It gives you exclusive rights to use your name and logo nationwide in your industry, the ability to stop infringers, and significant leverage in any dispute. Common law rights from simply using a name only protect you in limited geographic areas — they are not a substitute for federal registration.
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At minimum: a client services agreement that defines scope, payment, and ownership of work product; an independent contractor agreement for anyone you hire who isn't a W-2 employee; a non-disclosure agreement for sensitive business conversations; and terms and conditions if you operate a website or sell services online. Most businesses also need vendor agreements and, if they have partners, an operating agreement.
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You work directly with Janelle — not a rotating cast of associates who don't know your situation. That means faster responses, real continuity, and an attorney who is genuinely invested in your outcome. For business owners and individuals with complex needs, that relationship is often the difference between a smooth transaction and a painful one.
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Primarily hourly at $500 per hour for business transactions and ongoing counsel work. Estate planning engagements are available at flat fees, which we quote at the start so there are no surprises. Every engagement begins with a clear conversation about scope and expected cost.
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Yes. Peyton Law serves clients nationwide for federal matters including trademark registration, business transactions, and contract work. For state-specific matters, we are licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and can advise and refer to local counsel when needed elsewhere.
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A buy-sell agreement is a legally binding contract between business co-owners that governs what happens to an owner's share of the business if they die, become disabled, want to exit, or are forced out. Think of it as a prenuptial agreement for your business partnership — it establishes in advance who can buy out a departing owner, at what price, and on what terms.
If you have a business partner — whether a co-founder, investor, or family member — you almost certainly need one. Without it, you could find yourself in business with your partner's spouse, their estate, or someone entirely outside the original relationship. Disputes over valuation and buyout terms in the absence of an agreement are among the most expensive and destructive legal conflicts a business owner can face.
A buy-sell agreement also intersects directly with estate planning. The valuation method established in the agreement affects how your business interest is valued for estate tax purposes, who inherits it, and whether your heirs receive cash or an ownership stake they may not know how to manage. For business owners doing estate planning, reviewing the buy-sell agreement is always part of the conversation.
Business Transactions
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Earlier than most people think — ideally 12 to 18 months before you want to close. That gives time to get your legal and financial house in order before buyers do due diligence. Issues discovered late in a deal don't just cause delays; they erode your price or kill the transaction entirely. The earlier you engage, the more leverage you have.
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Someone who has done it before and who treats the transaction as a business event, not just a legal exercise. You want an attorney who understands valuation, due diligence, and deal structure — not just document drafting. And critically, someone who communicates clearly and moves at the speed your deal requires.
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Most transactions take six months to a year from the time you go to market to closing — sometimes longer for complex deals. The legal process itself, from letter of intent through due diligence and purchase agreement to closing, typically runs 60 to 120 days. Having your legal documentation in order before you go to market significantly compresses that timeline.
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Due diligence is the buyer's process of verifying everything about your business before closing — financials, contracts, IP ownership, employment agreements, liabilities, and litigation history. Buyers look for anything that creates risk or reduces value. The cleaner and more organized your documentation, the smoother the process and the less negotiating leverage a buyer has to reduce your price.
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In an asset sale, the buyer purchases specific assets of your business — equipment, contracts, customer lists, intellectual property — but not the entity itself. In a stock sale, the buyer acquires the entire company including its liabilities. Most buyers prefer asset sales because they limit liability exposure; most sellers prefer stock sales for tax reasons. The right structure depends on your situation and should be negotiated carefully.
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Yes — absolutely. A letter of intent feels preliminary but it sets the terms that are very difficult to change later. Exclusivity periods, price adjustment mechanisms, representations and warranties, and deal structure are all established at the LOI stage. Many sellers treat it as non-binding and informal; experienced buyers do not.
Estate Planning
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Especially then. A business is an illiquid asset, and without proper planning, your heirs may be forced to sell under pressure or at the wrong time. A well-structured plan addresses business succession, ownership transfer, and liquidity — not just who inherits what. For business owners, estate planning and succession planning are the same conversation.
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A complete estate plan typically includes a will, one or more trusts depending on your assets and goals, a durable power of attorney for financial decisions, a healthcare power of attorney, and a living will or advance directive. For business owners, it also includes a business succession plan and often a buy-sell agreement if you have partners.
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A trust is a legal structure that holds assets on behalf of your beneficiaries and transfers them outside of probate — the public court process that a will alone requires. Whether you need one depends on the size and complexity of your estate, your privacy concerns, and how you want assets distributed. For high net worth individuals and business owners, a trust is almost always the right answer.
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Without a plan, your business interest passes according to your will or state intestacy laws — which may mean your heirs inherit an asset they can't manage, can't sell quickly, or are forced to sell at a significant discount. Partners may have conflicting rights. Employees may leave. Value that took decades to build can disappear in months. A succession plan addresses all of this before it becomes a crisis.
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Yes — immediately. Selling a business fundamentally changes your asset structure, liquidity, and estate planning needs. The plan you had when most of your wealth was in a business is almost certainly wrong for a post-sale estate that includes cash, investments, or real property. This is one of the most commonly overlooked steps in a business sale.
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Estate planning costs vary based on the complexity of your situation. A basic plan — will, powers of attorney, and healthcare directive — is typically available at a flat fee. More complex plans involving trusts, business succession, or significant asset protection strategies require more work and are quoted based on your specific needs. At Peyton Law, we quote all estate planning engagements upfront so there are no surprises.
Start the ConversationThe right moment
to reach out is… Now.
Whether you're navigating a transaction, protecting what you've built, or finally getting your estate plan in order, a confidential conversation is the right first step.
In 20 minutes you'll know whether Peyton Law is the right fit — and leave with at least one clear next step.
Prefer a deeper conversation first? A 50-minute paid strategy session is available for a flat rate of $395. Paid sessions may be via video call or in-person in Radnor, Pennsylvania.